Guide to the Common Woman Chorus Records, 1985-2010 and undated

Lesbian feminist choral group established in the Durham-Raleigh-Chapel Hill area (N.C.) in 1983. The Common Woman Chorus records contain material dating from 1985 to 2010. The records primarily comprise sheet music, concert programs, publicity, correspondence, and administrative records. Although the records contain mostly print material, they also include some color photographs, audiocassettes, videos, electronic word documents, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.

The Common Woman Chorus records contain material dating from 1985 to 2010 relating to the group's musical and fund-raising activities. The records primarily comprise sheet music, concert programs, publicity, correspondence, and administrative records. Although the records contain mostly print material, a few color photographs, audiocassettes, videos, electronic word documents, t-shirts, and sweathirts are also included. Use copies of original audiovisual recordings will need to be created before items can be accessed by researchers. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture.

Access to the Collection

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

Researchers wishing to use membership materials that contain personal information must secure written permission from the president of the organization or designee before access may be granted by the libray.

Original audiovisual recordings in this collection are not immediately accessible because they require further processing before use.

Please note that all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Use & Permissions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Materials are arranged alphabetically by folder title, followed by audiovisual and oversize material. Original folder titles were retained.

Conditions Governing Access note

[Original recordings are closed to research. Use copies need to be created before contents can be accessed.]

ASCAP information/forms, 1999

Box 1

Board, 1987-2004

Box 1

Board bylaws, undated

Box 1

Broadway Our Way, undated

Box 1

Business documents, 2000 and undated

Box 1

Cabaret, 1996

Box 1

Catalogs, 2002

Box 1

Chorus, 1985-1999 and undated

Box 1

Chorus business, 1996-2001 (3 folders)

Box 1

Concert notes, 1996-2002 (2 folders)

Box 1

Concert programs, 1994-2004

Box 1

Concerts and fundraisers, 1997-1998

Box 1

Correspondence, 1997-2002

Box 2

Emcee script sample, 1999

Box 2

ERUUF (Eno River Unitarian-Universal Fellowship) rental, 1992-1999

Box 2

Farewell to Eleanor, 2001 Jan. 27

Box 2

Financial reports, 1985-2003

Box 2

Flyer file, 1992-2002 and undated (2 folders)

Box 2

Flyer/program ideas, 1993-2001 and undated

Box 2

GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses), 1997-2002

Box 2

GALA handbook, 1990

Box 2

Grant writing, 2002 and undated

Box 3

Handbooks and forms, 2001

Box 3

Historic, 1986-1996 and undated

Box 3

Introductions to music, 1998-1999 and undated

Box 3

Legal documents, 1986-2001

Box 3

LGBT newsletters and information, 2001-2002 and undated

Box 3

Love Love Love, 2002-2003

Box 3

Music selection committee, 1995-2002 and undated (folders 1-3 of 9)

Box 3

Music selection committee, 1995-2002 and undated (folders 4-9 of 9)

Box 4

Music selection committee orders, 2000 and undated

Box 4

New documents, 2001

Box 4

Non-profit, 2001 and undated

Box 4

Other choruses, 2000-2003 and undated

Box 4

Photographs, circa 1997 and undated

Box 5

Publicity committee, 2000-2001 and undated

Box 5

Rosters, 1995-2001 and undated

Conditions Governing Access note

Researchers wishing to use membership materials that contain personal information must secure written permission from the president of the organization or designee before access may be granted by the libray.

Box 5

Sheet music (folders 1-8 of 29)

Box 5

Sheet music (folders 9-15 of 29)

Box 6

Sheet music (folders 16-22 of 29)

Box 7

Sheet music (folders 23-28 of 29)

Box 8

Sheet music (folder 29 of 29)

Box 9

Surveys, 2000-2003 and undated

Box 9

Audio cassettes, 1996 and undated

Conditions Governing Access note

[Original recordings are closed to use. Listening copies must be made before contents can be accessed.]

Box 9

Video, The Eleanor Sableski Era, 1983-2001

Conditions Governing Access note

[Use copy needs to be created before item can be accessed for research.]

Box 9

Oversize material

Box contains t-shirts and sweatshirts, a few large digital prints, and music selection committee notes on a piece of cardboard.

Box 10

Electronic files

The majority of these are routine one-page documents outlining the responsibilities of various Common Woman Chorus committee leaders.

[Files have been mounted on the library server. For access, please contact Research Services.]

Sheet music, board meeting notes, planning materials, and audio recordings of Common Woman Chorus concerts and events, largely dating from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The largest batch of material relates to the planning and advertising of Raising Our Voices: A Breast Cancer Benefit concert held by CWC in November 2004. Also includes flyers, publicity materials, t-shirts, and correspondence between chorus members, as well as notes and internal documentation kept by chorus secretary Betty Prioux.

Materials are arranged thematically by event and format, and are in loose chronological order. Audiovisual materials will need to be reformatted prior to use.

The Common Woman Chorus, founded in 1983 and based in the Durham-Raleigh-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, performs musical selections that highlight the diversity and strength of women's lives and experiences. The Common Woman Chorus took its name from a Judy Grahn poem that reads,
“A common woman is as common as a common loaf of bread...and will rise.”
The chorus frequently combines political activism and music by performing at benefits for progressive organizations. The mission of the Common Woman Chorus is to entertain and educate the local community while refining musical skills and developing friendships.